Top with phonograph

ABSTRACT

A toy top of the type having a helical ratchet member for imparting a spinning motion responsive to vertical to and fro movement of the ratchet member with a phonograph mechanism driven by the ratchet mechanism and decorative surfaces in the interior of the top and visible from the exterior thereof, with at least one of the decorative surfaces movably driven relative to the other responsive to the ratchet action of the top.

O United States Patent 1 1 3,583,092 [72] Inventor Palmer.l.Schoenfield[56] References Cited.

Emmm N E T "res PATENTS [21] Appl. No. 774,029 U IT Us A 1,286,59511/1918 Beach 46/66 [22] Filed Nov. 7. 1968 I 2,997,808 8/1961 Ballets46/68 145] Patented June 8, 1971 484 9 I73] Assignee Marvin GlassAssociates 3, ,798 12/1 69 Disko et a1 46/175UX Primary Examiner-LouisG. Mancene AtlorneyHofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord ABSTRACT: Atoy top of the type having a helical ratchet member for imparting aspinning motion responsive to vertical [54] to and fro movement of theratchet member with a phono- 8 B graph mechanism driven by the ratchetmechanism and [52] [1.8. CI 46/66, decorative surfaces in the interiorof the top and visible from 4 6/68 the exterior thereof, with at leastone of the decorative sur- [51] lnt.Cl A63h l/06 faces movably drivenrelative to the other responsive to the [50] Field oi Search 46165-68ratchet action of the top.

TOIP Wll'lllil PHONOGRAPH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to amusement devices and, moreparticularly, to a top having phonograph mechanism and simulatedanimated means driven responsive to spinning ofthe top.

2. BriefDescription ofthe Prior Art Toy tops of the type having acentral helical shaft and interconnected gear mechanism for rotating thetop responsive to vertical action of the shaft are well known in theart. Furthermore, it is also known to construct such tops in a fashionso that a musical sound or the like emanates therefrom as the top isrotated. In most instances this has been accomplished by formingopenings or vanes in the housing of the top which will produce a hummingsound as the top is rotated at a relatively high rate of speed. Anexample of such a structure is shown in the Sefcik U.S. Pat. No.3,272,054.

It is further known to provide in such tops, musical producing meansincluding reeds movably positioned in the interior responsive tocurrents of air generated as the top is rotated to thereby producemusical sounds as the air passes through the reed. An example of thisconstruction is shown in the Brutting U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,548.

Beach U.S. Pat. No. 1,285,595 shows a top wherein the interior isprovided with a phonograph record, stylus and speaker, but the top is ofthe type which is spun by winding a cord thereabout and not by theratchet action of a shaft.

It is further known that children are fascinated by toys that involvemovement of components parts or simulated animation. Whereas the tops ofthe type described hereabove spin and therefore provide movement to theinterest of the child, the movement is only relative to the supportingsurface of the top and not to other components of the top which couldfurnish a form of simulated animation to the enjoyment of the user ofthe top.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to theprovision of a top of the type actuated by the vertical to and fromovement of a ratchetlike shaft, wherein the top is provided withphonograph mechanism in the interior thereof for reproducing a messageor musical composition, the phonograph being driven by the means forrotating or activating the top. In addition, the top is further providedwith viewable surfaces in the interior thereof, at least one of which ismovable relative to the other, the movement of the said one surfacebeing further driven by the means for rotating the top.

in the best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention,the drive shaft of the top is in engagement with a phonograph turntablerotatably mounted within the interior of the top for rotating the sameas the top rotates. The usual tone arm and speaker are operablyassociated with the turntable to produce sound from a record on theturntable as the top is rotated. In addition, the interior of the top isprovided with two relatively movable surfaces, one of which is alsointerconnected with the top drive shaft to move relative to the othersurface.

Preferably, the housing of the top is provided with means for viewingthe action in the interior thereof, such as a transparent cover or acover with a plurality of radially arranged openings or slits. Thus,during operation, the combination of the revolving slitted ortransparent housing together with the relatively movable surfaces in theinterior provide an object of visual interest to a child, and thesimultaneous message or musical reproduction of the phonograph mechanismattracts the audio interest ofa child.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a perspective view of themusical top of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view of the top shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a partial section view taken generally along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of portions of the phonograph mechanism ofthetop of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the assembly of the upper portion of thetop of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a portion of thetone arm return structure for the phonograph mechanism of the top ofthisinvention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail a specific embodiment therefore, with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplifications of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to limit the inventionto the embodiment illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The top 10 of this inventionincludes a housing 12 preferably made of a suitably rigid material, suchas a durable plastic or metal. The housing includes an upper portion 14having an outline or contour which is similar to that defined by therevolution of parabola about an axis, or bell shaped, and a lowerportion 16 which is a generally annular pan shaped structure.

The upper portion of housing 12 has a truncated flat top surface 18 withan opening 18a formed generally centrally thereof. The remainder of theupper portion depends therefrom in the aforesaid bell shape andterminates in an open end bent upon itself to provide an inwardly facingannular groove 20. The upper portion 14 may be formed ofa transparentmaterial or may be provided with light-transmitting portions, such asthe generally uprighltly extending slots 22 as shown, or both.

The annular sidewalls of the lower portion terminate in an outwardlyextending lip 24. Lip 24 occupies the inwardly facing groove 20 of theupper portion 14 to secure the two together. An opening 26 is formedgenerally centrally of the bottom of lower portion 16 in which a gearmember 28 is fixed. Gear 28 is supported on a pedestal 30 and impaled bya pin 31 about which the gear rotates. Pin 31 is secured in pedestal 30and extends through gear 28 centrally of the gear and opening 26, thepin being generally coincident with the axis of rotation of the top 10.

A generally circular cylindrical sleeve 32 is positioned in the opening18a and depends downwardly therefrom. An enlarged lower end 32a ofsleeve 32 is impaled upon pin 31 and the sleeve is rotatable relativethereto. Helical shaft 34 is positioned within the sleeve 32 about pin31 with a suitable cushion means, such as a rubber pad 35 between pin 31and the bottom of helical shaft 34. The shaft 34 projects to theexterior of the upper portion 14 and a handle 36 is affixed thereto. Acap 38 has tabs 38a which extend through slots 38b to affix the cap tothe housing 12. The cap 38 is also provided with a central opening 40through which the helical shaft 34 extends.

Below cap 38 and to the interior thereof is a generally frustoconicalclutch member 42 having a central slit 44 through which the helicalshaft 34 extends. The bottom of member 42 has tabs 46 which are intendedto engage cars 47 formed on surface 18 (FIG. 5) as helical shaft 34 ismoved downwardly and initially rotates clutch 42 until the tabs 46 abutcars 47. When handle 36 and therefore shaft 34 is moved upwardly, clutch42 is also vertically uplifted out of engagement with cars 47. Agenerally circular cylindrical bushing 50 is positioned loosely betweenthe clutch 42 and the interior of the cap 38 so as to permit upwardmovement of 42 and disengagement of tabs 40 and ears 47. Thus, by thisarrangement, as the handle 36 is grasped and moved vertically to andfrom to move the helical shaft, the top will be spun about its support30 in the well-known fashion.

An arm 52 is impaled on pin 31 between gear 28 and the end of sleeve 32.At one end of the arm 52 there is rotatably received a shaft 54 whichsupports a gear 56 that depends therefrom. Gear 56 is in engagement withgear 28, and is driven thereby as handle 36 and shaft 34 are activatedin the manner described. The gear 56 acts as a turntable for aphonograph record 58, and in the preferred embodiment, the record isembedded in the top of gear 56.

The other end of arm 52 supports a generally circular cylindricalspeaker support structure 60 in which speaker 62 is mounted. A tone arm64 is pivotally mounted on a pin 66 that depends from the support 60 forpivotally mounting the tone arm 64 with respect thereto.

The intermediate portion of the tone arm is in engagement with the apex68 of the speaker and the free end of the arm (FIG. 4) has a needle orstylus 70 which tracks on the grooves of the record 58 in the well-knownfashion. Thus, as the gear 56 is rotated responsive to actuation of thetop, sound will be reproduced out of the speaker 62.

A disclike decorative member 72 having a decorative surface 720 ispositioned above the several phonograph and gear members described, inthe area of the juncture of the upper and lower portions M and 16,respectively. The decorative member 72 has a central opening 74 thatclosely mates with the exterior of sleeve 32. In the illustratedembodiment, the decorative surface 72a ofmember 72 is shown as arepresentation of a clowns face and includes cutout portions such as thecutout area 76 in the area of the mouth of the clown face simulatedthereon, and the cutout portions 78 in the area of the eyes of the clownface simulated thereon.

A movable decorative member, in the form of a generally rectangularpanel 80, underlies the disc 72. Panel 80 is provided with an elongateslot 82 through which sleeve 32 extends. The panel is positioned overthe enlarged end 32a of the sleeve and underlies the disc 72. Theelongate slot 82 permits the panel 80 to move to and fro with respect tothe sleeve 32.

in the area underlying the eye cutouts 78, the panel 82 is provide withsimulated eyeballs 84. Similarly, in the area underlying the mouthcutout 76 the panel has a simulated jaw representation 86. In addition,the panel may be perforated as shown in the area overlying the speaker62 to permit the trans mission of sound therethrough.

A tab 88 extends through the tongue portion 86 of panel 86 and comprisesan extension of link 89 that is pivoted to a pin or rivet 90. The pin 90is positioned in one end ofa crank arm 92. The other end of crank arm 92is fixed, by setscrew 93 to the shaft d rotatably positioned in arm 52.Thus, as the shaft 54 is rotated, responsive to rotation of gear 56, thecrank 92 is also rotated and, through the interconnection of link 90,tab 86 and by means of the provision of elongated slot 82, the panel 80is moved to and fro relative to the decorative member 72. Such simulatedanimation produces the visual effect of blinking eyeballs and a movingjaw in the particular embodiment described herein. In those instanceswhere upper portion M is made of a clear plastic or the like, thesimulated animation may be easily observed. In addition, it must beremembered that this movement occurs as the top is rotated. Even ifupper portion 14 is opaque, the rapid rotation gives the illusion of aclear top by reason of the slits 22 so that the animated movement may beeasily observed. Simultaneous with this rotation of the top and therelative animated movement in the clown face, the tone arm is inengagement with the rotating record 58 so that a musical or word messageis transmitted through the speaker 62. Thus, the top provides thesimultaneous visual and audio enjoyment to the user.

Means 98 are provided for returning the tone arm 64 to the startingposition at the exterior or periphery of the record 58 followingtermination of the message thereof. in the preferred embodiment, thegear 56 is provided with an upstanding post 100 near the hub 102. Aspring 104 is positioned about the post and has two legs, one ofwhich,104a, is biased against the hub 102, and the other of which, 104b,extends at a generally 90 angle thereto. Leg 104!) terminates in anupturned end 1040 which captivates the finger 106 of return member 108.

Return member 108 is pivoted on pin 100. The free end of return member108 generally opposite finger 106 is arcuately recessed as at 112.

ln operation, as the tone arm travels across the record at thecompletion of the message, the needle 70 will strike the curved end 112of return member 108 and be elevated off the record. The continuedrotation of the record will cause member 108 to be moved radiallyoutwardly of the record to thereby carry tone arm 64 across the recordwith the needle out of engagement with the record, As the needle end ofthe tone arm reaches the periphery of the record, it moves out of curvedend 112 onto the record and the return member will return to theposition shown in FIG. 6 under the biasing action of spring 104.

This invention provides a spinning top of the ratchet action type whichaffords multiple forms of enjoyment to a child. In addition to thespinning action of the top, the recorded message or musical compositionis played through the record mechanism simultaneously with the spinningaction. At the same time, a viewable surface such as the simulated clownface, is displayed and the viewable surface is animated, in thatportions ofit move relative to other portions, such as the simulatedeyeballs and tongue on the movable panel which underlie the openings inthe member 72. Thus, the top gains the attention and holds the interestor attraction of a child through several different sensory perceptions;that of the sound of the record, the sight of the spinning top and thefurther fascination of the movable design in the interior of the topwhich may be viewed through the rotating slits 22 or clear upper portion14.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in theart.

I claim:

E. in a top having a housing including means for viewing the interior ofthe housing, a vertical spiral drive shaft, means operably connectingthe drive shaft and the housing for rotation of the latter in responseto reciprocation of the drive shaft, a phonograph device within saidhousing including a turntable having a phonograph record thereon, meansconnecting said turntable with said housing to provide for rotation ofthe turntable in response to rotation of said housing, frame meansnonrotatably fixed within said housing and including a generallyhorizontally disposed first decorative surface, a second decorativesurface overlying said first decorative surface and mounted for movementrelative thereto, and means connecting said turntable with said seconddecorative surface so that rotation of said turntable produces movementof said second decorative surface relative to said first decorativesurface.

1. In a top having a housing including means for viewing the interior ofthe housing, a vertical spiral drive shaft, means operably connectingthe drive shaft and the housing for rotation of the latter in responseto reciprocation of the drive shaft, a phonograph device within saidhousing including a turntable having a phonograph record thereon, meansconnecting said turntable with said housing to provide for rotation ofthe turntable in response to rotation of said housing, frame meansnonrotatably fixed within said housing and including a generallyhorizontally disposed first decorative surface, a second decorativesurface overlying said first decorative surface and mounted for movementrelative thereto, and means connecting said turntable with said seconddecorative surface so that rotation of said turntable produces movementof said second decorative surface relative to said first decorativesurface.